# Does Sammy Davis Jr. have any artistic legacy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2010, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270 "2010-09-27T20:48:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/41 "2010-09-29T19:34:17Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > How much of Jackson’s and Prince’s accomplishments are dependent upon what Davis did? Interesting you put that way…Jackson himself answers you [directly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfxCe2mfAEk). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/42 "2010-09-29T19:39:30Z")
Regarding Sammy’s estate: earlier this year Altovise’s estate was [said to be in excess of $10 million](http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-headlines/celebrity-lawsuits/son-of-sammy-davis-jr) in papers where their adopted son Manny sued to enforce his mother’s homemade will, so apparently she recovered rather nicely. (I’m guessing that figure is mostly copyrights and publishing rights and what not rather than cash, but it still boils down to “not broke as most would understand the term”.) ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/43 "2010-09-29T19:40:14Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [QUOTE=Stoid] > And PeeWee got a new Jag every two years. Out of curiosity, was PeeWee a lot younger than Sam, Sr. or was she an old lady who felt the need for speed? [/QUOTE] She was younger than Sam, but not by that much I don’t think. She liked her Jag… A strangely distinct memory I have is riding in the back of the Jag when PeeWee was driving and wearing some kind of leather jacket… I distinctly remember the sound of the leather jacket. I don’t know why that made such an impression on me. PeeWee was the first anal-retentive I ever knew, and I say that with affection. It was funny that she and my mom were so close, my mom was such a slob about the house and PeeWee was fanatical. She was a GREAT cook, wonderful. I always remember “PeeWee biscuits” - she cut them with thimbles. Very amusing. When we went to Disneyland with Sammy and his kids, PeeWee was really sweet because I was too much of a wuss to do the Matterhorn, so PeeWee stayed with me while we waited for them to do the ride. Which wasn’t a long wait, since we got to go to the front of every line. The VIP experience… Oh, and a few tidbits about Sam Sr.: he liked to play pinochle with his buddies, and for a long time I thought it was “peaknuckle”, they had the first color TV I ever saw and Sam pretty much lived in front of it, and Daddy Sam said of me, after watching me dance (I am a good dancer, excellent sense of rhythm) that I must have “a nigger in the woodpile” - don’t get mad, SAM said it. First time I ever heard that expression. Probably true, since my dad is from Tennessee hillbillies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/44 "2010-09-29T19:49:35Z")
[quote=“Stoid, post:33, topic:555270”] > [@Sampiro](#): > > Sammy was incredibly generous. He supported lots of people. He supported his father in excellent style. He was generous with himself, too… I got a ride in his Duesenberg a couple of times.. I know I must not remember it right, but my kid brain remembers gold plate. And PeeWee got a new Jag every two years. Sammy’s Deusey was a reproduction. A first rate one, but not an original. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/45 "2010-09-29T20:08:25Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > His work by itself still looks like hackery to me, if well executed hackery. Maybe we’re suffering from a bit of amphiboly here. As far as I understand, a “hack” is someone in a creative capacity, usually but not necessarily in the print medium, who produces formulaic or mundane output that merely meets the expectations of his/her sponsors or targeted audience; who breaks no new artistic ground nor expresses a unique artistic viewpoint. So if you mean his work was above the norm, I don’t think you could call it hackery, but if you’re sticking with hackery as defined, then “well executed” just means “meets expectations.” If that’s your evaluation of SDJ after more than a cursory viewing of his performances, I think it’ll be hard to convince you of his importance! > [@](#): > > How much of Jackson’s and Prince’s accomplishments are dependent upon what Davis did? Dependence is a tough standard with which to measure influence. For instance, it’s not ridiculous to ask whether we’d have had Julia Child if there’d not been a Georges Auguste Escoffier, but it’s a tougher question to ask how much of Stephen King’s output is dependent on what E. A. Poe did? Is there a direct line of causation between Hank Williams and Toby Keith? Madonna and Lady Gaga? Little Richard and Elton John? Red Skelton and Jim Carey? Some of those lean “yes” some of 'em are less obvious, but the influences of the earlier performers are just as clear. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/46 "2010-09-29T20:11:38Z")
I had forgotten what a talent he was. Calling his work hackery is to ignore all the great stuff he did pre-schlock era. The 70’s and 80’s weren’t exactly known for excellence in pop songwriting or for showcasing older pop singers, but all his earlier stuff was great. Just ignore “I’ve Gotta Be Me” and “The Candyman” which even he didn’t care much for. Watch his Porgy & Bess clips and the pre-hippie stuff. YouTube doesn’t do justice to his voice, which was absolutely beautiful. His range of styles and his versatility was unsurpassed. He was mesmerizing to watch and his performances flawless. To think that he wasn’t allowed to stay in the Vegas hotels he performed at in the 1950s, that he was kidnapped by thugs and threatened in order to make him stop dating Kim Novak, what he did to advance civil rights, switched to Judaism at a time when actors were still hiding their Jewishness… From Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > Davis was a headliner at [The Frontier Casino](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Frontier_Hotel_and_Casino) in Las Vegas, [Nevada](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada), but he was required (as were all black performers in the 1950s) to stay in a rooming house on the west side of the city, instead of sleeping in the hotels as his white entertainers did. No dressing rooms were provided for black performers, and they had waited outside by the swimming pool between acts.[[10]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr.#cite_note-9) > During his early years in Las Vegas, Davis and other African-American artists could entertain, but usually could neither stay at the hotels where they performed, gamble in the casinos, nor dine or drink in the hotel restaurants and bars. Davis later refused to work at places which practiced [racial segregation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_segregation). His demands would lead to the integration of [Miami Beach](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Beach) nightclubs and Las Vegas casinos, an accomplishment Davis justly took pride in… > > In the mid-1950s, Sammy was involved with [Kim Novak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Novak), a star under contract to [Columbia Studios](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Studios). The head of the studio, [Harry Cohn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Cohn), was worried about the negative effect this would have on the studio because of the prevailing taboo against [miscegenation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscegenation). He called his friend, the mobster [Johnny Roselli](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Roselli), who was asked to tell Davis that he had to stop the affair with Novak. Roselli arranged for Davis to be kidnapped for a few hours to throw a scare into him. His hastily arranged and soon-dissolved marriage to black dancer [Loray White](http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loray_White&action=edit&redlink=1) in 1958 was an attempt to quiet the controversy.[[20]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammy_Davis,_Jr.#cite_note-19) > In 1960, Davis caused controversy when he married white [Swedish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden)-born actress [May Britt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Britt). Davis received hate mail while starring in the Broadway musical adaptation of _[Golden Boy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Boy)_ from 1964-1966 (for which he received a [Tony Award](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Award) nomination for Best Actor). At the time Davis appeared in the play, interracial marriages were forbidden by law in 31 US states, and only in 1967 were those laws [ruled unconstitutional](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._Virginia) by the [US Supreme Court](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Supreme_Court). I remember that his fawning over Nixon left a bad taste in the mouth of a lot of liberals. JFK had uninvited him from performing at his inauguration party because of his marriage to May Britt. Apparently he went back to supporting Democrats post-Nixon. Hard to say what exactly his “legacy” is, but he was a remarkable talent. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/47 "2010-09-29T20:23:34Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Probably true, since my dad is from Tennessee hillbillies. Come now, those Scots/Irish roots make for good rhythm, too. It’s possible your ancestry includes [guys and gals like these 'uns](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2j8f7H2WY&feature=related) in the woodpile. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/48 "2010-09-29T21:23:03Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > > [@Stoid](#): > > > > Probably true, since my dad is from Tennessee hillbillies. > > Come now, those Scots/Irish roots make for good rhythm, too. It’s possible your ancestry includes [guys and gals like these 'uns](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs2j8f7H2WY&feature=related) in the woodpile. 😉 Except you’re assuming that the people in that video have snow-white woodpiles themselves. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/49 "2010-09-29T21:25:47Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Maybe we’re suffering from a bit of amphiboly here. That is a marvelous word! One I’ve actually wanted for a long time…thank you! And I think the OP is also having a bit of trouble separating his own tastes from his assessment of Sammy. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/50 "2010-09-30T13:05:15Z")
Stoid- did you go to his funeral? There’s a rumor- the truth value of which is impossible to gauge of course- that a photographer took several pictures of Sammy in his coffin, which in addition to never being anybody’s greatest position/lighting/etc. in Sammy’s case was particularly bad due to the cancer wasting him away and certainly not how he’d want to be remember. Per the rumor the photographer was called at home by Shirley MacLaine who conveyed a message from Frank Sinatra that he’d like for the photographer would give him the negatives, and that it would make Sinatra sad if he didn’t (i.e. less bribe, more threat). In any case the photos never surfaced. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/51 "2010-09-30T15:17:24Z")
This is a great thread, especially the posts by **Sampiro** and **Stoid**. I now have a true appreciation for the man that I never had before. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/52 "2010-09-30T20:32:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > This is a great thread, especially the posts by **Sampiro** and **Stoid**. I now have a true appreciation for the man that I never had before. I’m very glad. Honestly, I was a little surprised at how much it bothered me that this ever came up! Sammy’s the MAN… ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/53 "2010-09-30T20:34:16Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Stoid- did you go to his funeral? > > There’s a rumor- the truth value of which is impossible to gauge of course- that a photographer took several pictures of Sammy in his coffin, which in addition to never being anybody’s greatest position/lighting/etc. in Sammy’s case was particularly bad due to the cancer wasting him away and certainly not how he’d want to be remember. Per the rumor the photographer was called at home by Shirley MacLaine who conveyed a message from Frank Sinatra that he’d like for the photographer would give him the negatives, and that it would make Sinatra sad if he didn’t (i.e. less bribe, more threat). In any case the photos never surfaced. Nio, by the time he died PeeWee had been dead for awhile already and my family wasn’t really in touch with his anymore. In fact, I’ve been trying to find his sister via Facebook and so far no luck. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/54 "2010-09-30T23:33:39Z")
[QUOTE=Stoid] In fact, I’ve been trying to find his sister via Facebook and so far no luck. [/QUOTE] How many did he have? I knew he had a sister named Ramona- she did some interview shows- but she [died in 2001](http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79460027.html). ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/55 "2010-09-30T23:46:44Z")
Two. The other is named Suzette. She was my sister’s age. And I actually found her right after I made the post! I sent her a message and I’m hoping to hear back. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270/56 "2010-10-05T17:15:51Z")
but my mother was a huge Sammy fan. My favorite of his works has to be the musical Golden Boy. Lots of good stuff on that soundtrack. A shame he couldn’t get more ‘centered’ in his personal life - a poster boy for ‘acquired narcissism syndrome’ if ever there was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-sammy-davis-jr-have-any-artistic-legacy/555270.md?page=2)